Prosecutors debate upgrading murder charges
Ramsey County prosecutors are deciding whether to upgrade the charges against the man accused of killing three women in the Twin Cities suburb of Mounds View this week.
Johnny Lee Ellis, 38, faces three counts of second-degree murder. Susan Gaertner is a Ramsey County Attorney.
"This an extremely brutal homicide, three victims. If we decided, after further investigation, after further review, that first degree is an appropriate charge we'll take it to the grand jury for their review," Gaertner said.
One of the victims was Ellis's girlfriend. Her sister and mother were also murdered in the Mounds View home they shared with Ellis.
Ellis allegedly killed them because he did not want to leave any witnesses. Ellis is being held in the Ramsey County jail on $1 million dollars bail.
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